It's About Time

Dorrin chosen as "Formidable Figure"

2021-09-08T20:13:00.001-04:00

Earlier this year I was chosen as the "Formidable Figure" for a local news magazine "The Valley Voices" I was honored to be chosen for this prestigious recognition. The following is a copy of the article.

Formidable

Figure

Dorrin

Mace

Horologist, Certified Antiques

Appraiser and Owner of Pine Knoll

Clock Shop & Appraisals, Mercer

By Taylor Sherman

The clock is always ticking at Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals, but owner Dorrin Mace is in no rush

— instead, he is enjoying life's adventure. The Mercer-based certified antiques appraiser and horologist opened his shop in 1981 and has shared his skills with customers ever since, completing tens of thousands of restorations and repairs.

'The looks I receive when I tell people I am an horologist — many do not know what that term means," Dorrin shared of his profession. "Simply: an horologist is a person learned in the art of time keeping and repairs to time keeping mechanisms. There is a difference between a person who works on clocks (a.k.a. a tinkerer) and a true horologist. A tinkerer has a

rudimentary understanding of clocks and can sometimes get them running. An horologist has an in-depth knowledge of clocks, their history, metallurgy and how it affects the operations of a clock, a knowledge of classical architecture and how to best restore a piece to its appropriate period appearance, as well as an expansive knowledge of engineering and what makes a clock movement operate properly. I am an horologist."

Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, Dorrin's interest in clock repair began in 1969. "When my maternal grandfather George Ray Ill passed away, my mother inherited the Revolutionary War era home," Dorrin shared. "Nothing used in the home was ever discarded and in one of the outbuildings was a collection of clocks that were once used in the house but had been relegated to this building when they no longer functioned or were out of style. I took one of these clocks, a small spring wound box regulator and began working on it. I never finished the repair on this piece."

Building his very first clock at just 6 years old, combined with a genuine curiosity for "anything mechanical, "

.drove me to learn all I could about clock repairing," he said. 'The library was a great resource for me, but was limited on what was available on my chosen subject. I frequented any book sale that I could find and gathered all the magazines and books on clock repairs, reading and re-reading about the subject. I loved the sound of clocks and watching a clock mechanism operate."

Before Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals became his full-time profession, Dorrin was faced with doubt. "For awhile I was talked out of clocks being a way to make a living," he said. "It was the late 1970s and in theory, mechanical time pieces would be gone by the mid-1980s, replaced by electronic pieces that never needed repaired, wound and would be far more accurate than their mechanical counter parts. That advice I received was wrong!"

In 1981, Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals opened for business. And since, Dorrin has worked on more than 30,000 clock restorations and repairs. Dorrin shared, 'We have been chosen as a repair center for some of the largest clock manufacturers to include Howard Miller, Ridgeway Clocks, Sligh Clocks, Hentschel

Clocks and Anton Schneider Cuckoo

Clocks. "

10 VALLEY VOICES

What is a work-related accomplishment that you are especially proud of? Having been in the field for 40 years, it is difficult to pinpoint one work-related accomplishment, but what I am most proud of is my longevity in this field, my reputation, the constant referrals I get from my clients and continued growth. I have been chosen to restore several historic pieces such as the large triad clock on the Joseph Hornes building in downtown Pittsburgh, a 200-yearold triple dial mantle clock, jeweler's regulator clock in the Chancellor's Residence at the University of Pittsburgh, a wonderful long case clock from the Harmonites in Harmony, and a Great Ogee style mantle clock for The Old Stone House in Slippery Rock.

What is a misconception people have about your career? When people hear that I repair clocks for a living, I am sometimes asked what my other job is. In truth, many clock tinkerers need a second job to make ends meet. I am good at what I do and work as many hours as two full-time jobs because of my reputation. For this I am very thankful and feel blessed beyond measure.

What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to and why? My drive to succeed and not disappoint clients is my most notable attribute. I am not perfect, but I do work my best to achieve the best results for my clients and the pieces they have entrusted to me.

Where was your first job? My first job from which I received an actual paycheck was at Winky's on Bon Aire near Butler. I have worked several food service jobs and feel everyone should have a job like that so they know how to treat employees and understand what they [food service workers] are going through.

Who or what inspires you? Often I am asked what inspires me. Happy clients and referrals are my main inspiration to continue doing a great job, but what inspired me to take my clock repair to a full-time profession was when I worked as the purchasing manager for Wendell August. Bill Knecht and I had a great working relationship and I learned a lot from him on making a business a destination, not just a place to get something done or purchase something. When you visit my shop you will see interesting antique items on display, unique items to purchase and pleasant music playing. I have heard from many customers over the years that the shop and the surrounding grounds are so peaceful and almost magical. That is the result my wife and I are going for and we are always working to up our game. The plans for our growth in the next few years are grand and we can hardly wait to show our visitors!

How do you most enjoy to unwind after a busy day? When the day is done, I have dinner with my loving wife and then often retire to the front room with my dog on my lap to answer the dozens of emails and messages I get throughout the day. Winchester loves this routine and we are often joined by Dobby, my wife's dog — all of us together on that one worn recliner. During that time, any stress I have from the day just goes away.

What is something few people know about you? I am an ordained minister. That is a tale for another day, but I have plans for this and when I slow down on clock work, I will pick up on this aspect of my life.

What do you most enjoy about our region? What I enjoy most about this region is the diversity of seasons, people, architecture and life views. I lived in Germany for a few years while in the Air Force working with logistics on cruise missile weapons systems and loved the culture and region. Our place in western Pennsylvania reminds me of that a lot. We have a lot of growth happening in our area, which speaks volumes to people realizing how blessed we are in this area. When my family and I moved to our location on Route 58 between Grove City and Mercer, the typical car count a day was less than 100; now we are at nearly 5,000 a day. That says a lot about growth!

How do you define success? My definition of success is finding your calling, being happy in what you accomplish, and at the end of the day knowing you did your best, treated people fairly, and found a way to grow. Knowledge of your abilities, shortcomings and a plan to improve and carry out what has been put out for you is success. We all have a path to follow; we really need to understand that and follow it. Life is a great adventure. It took me many years to realize that and now that I have, I am a much happier person.

Dorrin continued, "All restorations and repairs are completed with the utmost care, sympathetic to each piece, its history, original construction and character. Each piece is treated as our own."

In 2015, Dorrin added full appraisal services to his business's offerings. "I have been interested in and restoring antiques nearly as long as I have clocks. As more and more clients were seeking certified appraisals on their pieces, I took the step, furthered my education and became a graduate-certified antiques appraiser, continuing my knowledge growth and ongoing education on trends and developments in the antiques world." Dorrin's educational accolades include degrees in business administration, computer science, logistics management and industrial engineering. He is a certified antiques appraiser as well as a

Fellow of the British Horological Society.

"My professional associations include the AWI, BHI, NAWCC and the 1 continue to review these groups and add to my memberships as I see a new opportunity appear that would help me to continue to grow in my chosen career," the horologist added.

When he isn't in the shop, Dorrin can be found spending time with his wife of 38 years, Patty, their dogs Winchester and Dobby, three house cats, one shop cat named Miss Mary, and "a very .angry gander named Harry, all in a 170-plus year-old Pennsylvania farm house with my shop right next to our house."

Dorrin and Patty have three grown children — two sons and a daughter as well as three grandsons. "I am a full-time horologist, Patty is an herbalist and we thoroughly enjoy where our paths have taken us," Dorrin said. V

Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals is located at 1749 Mercer Grove City Road, Mercer.

Information: 724.748.4058, visit Pineknollclocks.com or email Pineknoll@zoominternet.net.

JUNE 2021 11

Initiating a New Email Notification Service

2021-09-08T19:51:00.002-04:00

Beginning early October, Pine Knoll Clock Shop will begin a new email notification service. If you would like to receive our newsletter and other notifications, please send your email address to:

pineknoll@zoominternet.net

Looking forward to launching this new aspect of the clock shop!

Our Latest Press Piece

2021-02-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

From The Sharon Herald ~ February 27, 2021

2020, not our best year, but also not our worst; we are still standing. We were able to open a new portion of the sales floor, a.k.a. the log cabin room, redesigned the sales floor and repair area for better flow, and added new business clients using our services and we made lots of plans for 2021.

2021 will bring a lot of changes. We have a new building planned to go up where we took an old one down. This new space will allow for expanded wood working, metal working, clock making, engraving, and special project areas. We will now have the needed room for storage, project overflow and just a feeling of space we so much need.

2020 honored Pine Knoll Clock Shop with being chosen as the shooting location for a short film by Point Park University. The clock shop was chosen for its unique interior and old world charm as the film was set in 1940s Europe. We were thrilled to help with this project

2020 saw the cancellation of all shows at which we sold our Green Line Clocks, however that did not stop from planning new designs. We will roll out 10 new designs this fall. The new designs are more naturalistic and less home spun/primitive style. Watch our Facebook pages and blog for the introduction of these pieces.

2021 brings promise and excitement. Our increased online presence will enable us to serve many more current and potential clients. Our offerings in the shop are going virtual, the story of Pine Knoll Clock Shop is being seen worldwide with new interest from Europe, to Asia, to Africa we are growing and are proud of the services and items we offer.

2020 saw Pine Knoll Clock Shop become a direct importer of clock parts, movements, and supplies. The direct imported status came about as a direct effect of the inability of our current supply partners to provide our needs during the pandemic.

2021 promises immense opportunity and growth. We are very thankful to have come through 2020 and look forward to a great 2021. Stop at the shop on Route 58 between Grove City and Mercer and visit us.

Shop hours: Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; phone: 724-748-4058; email: pineknoll@zoominternet.net. web: pineknollclocks.com; blog: pineknollclockshop.blogspot.com

Wood Worm!

2020-12-02T19:00:00.001-05:00

Having been a clock repairman for nearly 40 years, I come across so many interesting situations. One of my most recent situations involved an antique clock purchased from a reseller in an antique mall.

The client was interested in this little Hamburg American Vienna Regulator style clock they saw in one of the booths at an antique mall. When the client asked the proprietor about the holes in the case, they were told it was "nothing of consequence" just an attempt to add "uniqueness" to the case by a former owner when they drilled holes in the wood for an aged appearance.

Once the client got the clock home they noticed "dust" falling on the floor from the case. The "dust" got so bad it bound up the clock movement. The "dust" the client was seeing was wood dust being expelled by wood worm

Wood worm is a rare sighting in the United States, but very common in the UK. The worms eat at the wood causing it to become very lacy and weak .

The moral of this story is, use extreme caution when purchasing antique clocks from unknown dealers. If the story of the clock seems sketchy put the clock back and look for another. If dust is noticed when looking at the case, this could be a sign of active wood worm and the damage can be severe and expensive to repair (if it can be repaired)

Mina - A Short Film

2020-10-06T01:21:00.003-04:00

Recently Pine Knoll Clock Shop was chosen as a shooting location for the film "Mina" by students of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. It was a true pleasure working with this talented group!

This is not the typical type of post for my blog, but I am asking for your help for these students to finish this movie. During this COVID19 pandemic, fund raising is challenging to say the least, and time is of the essence. If you could go to their INDIEGOGO page using the link below and donate any amount you can, I am certain it would be greatly appreciated.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mina-a-short-film#/

Thank you!

Dorrin K Mace, Horologist, Certified Antiques Appraiser

Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals

Video Tour of Pine Knoll Clock Shop

2020-01-28T18:10:00.001-05:00

Many of my world wide readers have expressed an interest in seeing more of my clock shop. Below is a brief video highlighting the showroom and repair area of the shop. The "Log Cabin" room is a customer favorite as you can view me while I repair and work on clock movements, clock cases, and other repair projects. I hope you enjoy this tour.

Changes to the BLOG

2019-06-13T09:40:00.002-04:00

First I want to thank every one who visits, comments, and shares my blog posts. That said, their have been several recent inappropriate comments left on the blog as well as pirating of my blog posts by those who want to pass my work off as their own. Therefore I have limited comment posting to only those that are members of this BLOG. Should you not want to be a member of the BLOG but do indeed have a question, comment, concern, kindly email these to PINEKNOLL@ZOOMINTERNET.NET

I am sorry that this step had to be taken, but as we are at over a quarter million readers, I find it difficult to keep up with policing the comments that do not belong. I hope my readers and followers understand.

Auctions coming in June, July, August

2019-06-05T18:19:00.002-04:00

Huge clock (and other collectible items) estate auction. Many quality pieces! Something for everyone interested in clocks.

Business Journal Interview at Pine Knoll Clock Shop

2019-03-11T15:13:00.000-04:00

Recently the Youngstown, Ohio Business Journal stopped by Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals to talk about the shop, how I began this journey, and where I see the business going. Here is the interview: Please click on the link below

An interview at Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals by The Business Journal

Tower Clocks

2019-03-07T19:02:00.002-05:00

Arguably, the most famous tower clock is "Big Ben" in London.
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster
in London and is usually extended to refer to both the clock and the clock tower. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally just The Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II

This 4 faced clock was completed in 1859 and stands 315 feet tall. An imposing structure.

But what is a tower clock? A tower clock is also referred to as a turret clock; in its purest this is a large, weight driven mechanism, designed to display the time one or more large dials.

Because of what Movies have conjured up as well as the ability of a persons mind to run wild, many people think a tower clock movement must be some giant mechanical monster 20 feet high with gearing 5 feet in diameter.

Truth be told, most tower clock movements average about 5 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 5 feet tall for a time only unit.

The carillon or bell playing portion of the movement can be much larger as it must control the sounding of several bells at different intervals and with different melodies. The melodies are played by utilizing a pinned drum that activates the hammers striking the bells. The drum is driven by a weight or electric motor and is activated and stopped via levers on the clock movement.

Sadly, the majority of tower clocks have gone from being a weight driven unit that is wound by hand to an electrically wound or worse yet electric clock movement.

Even Big Ben is now electrically wound (but still weight driven).

An electric movement has the advantage of a minimum of maintenance, but only hums from the electric drive instead of hearing the pleasing tick tock as the pendulum swings and the verge arrests and releases the escapement wheel.

An electric movement is small in size and easy to maintain, but I like the large mechanical units.

I love tower clocks, their appeal is their size and sound. I have been and will continue to be on the search for a tower clock unit to repair and display in my shop for customers and visitors to enjoy. Someday...

Pine Knoll in the Business Journal

2019-03-06T10:32:00.002-05:00

The article appears below, here is a link to the original printed version.

Youngstown Business Journal Pine Knoll Clock Shop

One correction; my street number is 1749 Mercer Grove City Road.

Company News

Work Keeps Ticking Along at Pine Knoll Clock Shop
By Josh Medore | March 4, 2019

MERCER, Pa. – For horologist Dorrin Mace, an interest in clocks stretches back to the Revolutionary War. His personal story starts a little closer to today, but the items that caught his attention go back to the founding of the nation.

“In 1969, my grandfather died. They had a house that was granted to them after the Revolutionary War, so about 1780. They never threw anything away and one of the summer kitchens was full of every clock that house ever had,” Mace says from his workshop. “I was just fascinated. I wasn’t very old, but I was fascinated enough to know that’s what I wanted to do.”

Today, 50 years later, that fascination has grown into Pine Knoll Clock Shop, 1479 Mercer Grove City Road in Mercer, Pa.

Inside his workshop, Mace repairs and refurbishes clocks of all ages, styles and conditions. In one corner is a red and white Coca-Cola clock from the 1980s, while a piece made in France in the mid-1800s sits on a cabinet across the room. Leaning against the cabinet is one of Mace’s rarest finds to date: a McClintock master clock. The clocks were once used by banks and courthouses to control individual clocks throughout their offices via electrical pulses that went off every minute.

“It played four different melodies so you knew exactly what time it was. Instead of playing four parts of a melody, this one had four distinct melodies. It played off a drum over electric pickups to the main clock,” he says.

What makes the find so exceptional isn’t its condition – most of the clock is “in a million pieces in a bag” – but that it’s just one of three Mace knows to still exist. Used largely in the 1920s and 1930s, the McClintock master clocks were between 12 and 15 feet tall with large amounts of brass and copper. When the United States entered World War II, many were scrapped to aid the war effort.

“I don’t know how this one survived, but I know there are three of these and none of them work. I’m more than excited to have this,” Mace says of the clock he found in a California junkyard. “I don’t know the value on this and it doesn’t really matter.”

In his eyes, all clocks are equally valuable. He’s worked on pieces with just a $10 price tag and pieces designed by L.C. Tiffany. Just as much care is given to the $10 clock brought in by a boy who received it as a gift from his grandfather as is given to the one designed by the man best known for stained-glass works for Tiffany & Co.

“It may be a $10 clock, but to him it means everything,” Mace says.

Among the larger projects Mace has had is a clock weighing about 700 pounds from Bultman Funeral Home in New Orleans, the oldest funeral home in the city before it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Mace purchased the clock from another clock repairman based in Michigan and brought back into working condition. He estimated that had the work been done for a customer, it would have been a $10,000 repair.

Today, it sits outside Pine Knoll.

Mace started repairing clocks as a hobby, eventually offering help to others when he was about 18. As the years went on, it turned into a side job before coming into its own as Pine Knoll Clock Shop in 2001.

“I started in the basement and then the basement took over the dining room, which took over the living room. It was overwhelming and we bought our first building, thinking I’d work 20, 30 hours a week,” Mace says. “I was at a year and a half wait on repairs, which you shouldn’t do. That really said to me it’s time to leave [my other job].”

Today, his backlog is usually around 12 weeks, with the time largely depending on the degree of repairs needed – small adjustments can be done in his workshop – and the availability of parts. When Mace started working on clocks, he says, there were 15 parts suppliers, down to just two today, which can make sourcing replacement parts a challenge.

“I have a huge group of people that follow me – our blog has about 200,000 followers – that include repairmen in Israel, South Africa and around the world that I can contact,” he says. “There are some things that you can’t quote, that you have say ‘I’ll call you back when I find the part.’ But cleaning, oiling, adjusting suspensions, we know how long it takes to do that.”

In his arsenal of tools, little is specific to clocks, he says. Among the ones he uses most often are Phillips head screwdrivers – about a dozen because of the wide variety of screws used in clocks over the past couple centuries – and dental picks. One of his more prized tools is a set of carbide bits made in France in the late 1800s.

“You use them as files to clean out pivots. They’re great in small areas,” he says. “Nothing here is a high-end tool.”

Dorrin Mace uses dental picks to clean out oil buildup on clocks.

After repairs are made, he lets clocks run for up to a week to ensure that there aren’t any more problems with it and that everything is running smoothly.

Beyond fixing clocks, Mace has also gotten into selling them. The front portion of Pine Knoll Clock Shop is full to the brim of pieces repaired or built by Mace, ranging from cuckoo clocks to towering grandfather clocks. There’s also the Green Line, developed by Mace as a way to recycle discarded materials.

“I saw so much waste. My wife and I are hippies, for lack of a better term,” he says with a laugh. “We saw flooring that couldn’t be used and had some worn damage but once it’s sanded, it’s just gorgeous. Fencing that’s been damaged by weather can be beautiful. You’re saving resources.”

He’s turned old records into timepieces, as well as hubcaps, pieces of tin ceilings and, at one point, even gears from Harley Davidson motorcycles.

And even with the increasing use of smartphones and watches, Mace says business is as good as ever. His clientele stretches across generations as younger people, he observes, fall in love with one particular aspect of clocks.

“It’s the sound of a clock ticking. There used to be an advertising slogan: ‘The heartbeat of the home.’ People are remembering that,” he says. “It’s like reading a book. Having an e-reader is fine, but there’s the tactile feel of the book. Watching the hands ticking is just phenomenal.

Pictured: Dorrin Mace, owner of Pine Knoll Clock Shop, with his McClintock master clock, one of three he knows to exist.

The Torsion Pendulum Clock

2019-03-04T16:34:00.000-05:00

The torsion pendulum was invented by Robert Leslie in 1793. The torsion pendulum clock was first invented and patented by American Aaron Crane in 1841. He made clocks that would run up to one year on a winding.

Mr. Crane also attempted to make precision astronomical regulator clocks based on the torsion pendulum, but only four sold.

A torsion pendulum clock, more commonly known as an anniversary clock or 400-day clock, is a mechanical clock which keeps time with a mechanism called a torsion pendulum. This is a weighted disk or wheel, often a decorative wheel with 3 or 4 chrome balls on ornate spokes, suspended by a thin wire or ribbon called a torsion spring; also known as a suspension spring. The torsion pendulum rotates about the vertical axis of the wire, twisting it, instead of swinging like an ordinary pendulum. The force of the twisting torsion spring reverses the direction of rotation, so the torsion pendulum oscillates slowly, clockwise and counterclockwise. The clock's gears apply a pulse of torque to the top of the torsion spring with each rotation to keep the wheel going. The wheel and torsion spring function similarly to a watch's balance wheel and hairspring, as a harmonic oscillator to control the rate of the clock's hands.

Torsion clocks are capable of running much longer between windings than clocks with an ordinary pendulum, because the torsion pendulum rotates slowly and takes little energy. However they are difficult to set up and are usually not as accurate as clocks with ordinary pendulums. One reason is that the oscillation period of the torsion pendulum changes with temperature due to temperature-dependent change in elasticity of the spring. The rate of the clock can be made faster or slower by an adjustment screw mechanism on the torsion pendulum that moves the weight balls in or out from the axis. The closer in the balls are, the smaller the moment of inertia of the torsion pendulum and the faster it will turn, like a spinning ice skater who pulls in her arms. This causes the clock to speed up.

One oscillation of the torsion pendulum usually takes 12, 15, or 20 seconds. The escapement mechanism, that changes the rotational motion of the clock's gears to pulses to drive the torsion pendulum, works rather like an anchor escapement. A crutch device at the top of the torsion spring engages a lever with two anchor-shaped arms; the arms in turn alternately engage the teeth of the escape wheel. As the anchor releases a tooth of the escape wheel, the lever, which is fixed to the anchor, moves to one side and, via the crutch, gives a small twist to the top of the torsion spring. This is just enough to keep the oscillation going.

The Atmos clock, made by Jaeger Le Coultre, is a type of torsion clock which doesn't need to be wound or powered at all. The mainspring which turns the clock's wheels is kept wound by small changes in atmospheric pressure and/or local temperature, using a bellows mechanism. Thus no winding key or battery is needed, and it can run for years without human intervention.

The German Anton Harder apparently independently invented and patented the torsion clock in 1879-1880. He was inspired by watching a hanging chandelier rotate after a servant had turned it to light the candles. He formed the firm Jahresuhrenfabrik ('Year Clock Factory') and designed a clock that would run for a year, but its accuracy was poor. He sold the patent in 1884 to F. A. L. deGruyter of Amsterdam, who allowed the patent to expire in 1887. Other firms entered the market, beginning the German mass production of these clocks.

Although they were successful commercially, torsion clocks remained poor timekeepers. In 1951, Charles Terwilliger of the Horolovar Co. invented a temperature compensating suspension spring, which allowed fairly accurate clocks to be made.

The Ogee Clock

2019-03-03T13:28:00.000-05:00

Dating and popular from the early 1800's to the early 1900's, the Ogee clock was a statement piece.

From the Encyclopedia Britannica: Ogee clock, clock design that originated in the United States in the 1830s, distinguished by a case the front outer edges of which are curved into an S-shape (ogee). This shape is formed by the union of a convex and a concave line. A mass-produced variant of the shelf clock, the ogee clock stands about 30 inches (75 cm) high and is usually weight-driven. The movements were usually made of brass and were made to run for 30 hours or eight days.

From Merriam Webster: Ogee clock, a 19th century U.S. shelf clock with S-curve molding.

Both the Encyclopedia Britannica and the Merriam Webster Dictionary treat this clock as a run of the mill, rather boring example of an American clock, it is far more than that.

The ogee style clock was one of the earliest mass produced, affordable clocks for the masses. Similar to the Model T by Henry Ford, the ogee was not a perfect clock, but was more than acceptable and very reliable.

The cases were typically veneered in beautiful rosewood and fit with robust weight driven movement. Movements were 1 day or 8 day run and could be fitted with an alarm mechanism.

The movements in these clocks were easy and inexpensive to manufacture. Manufacture varied from a very simple and cheap brass strap movement that was riveted together, to a punched brass movement with impressed oil sinks, even to a fanciful lyre shaped movement with pressed in bearings.

The dials of the clock were manufactured from pressed metal or carved wood, both types painted and embellished to suit the taste and style of the time

This was often the first and only clock possessed by a family. This was a good looking piece, that ran well, was easy to maintain by the owner, and was a possession to be proud of. The ogee style clock was born out of the early part of the industrial revolution when manufacture processes became more streamlined and items became more affordable. The ogee style clock could display the time and have artwork on the lower tablet of the door, or even a mirror in the lower tablet to reflect more light into the room. This was a revolutionary and important piece. To relegate the clock to a simple statement of "a clock that was manufactured with a simple s formed case" does not do justice to the early American clock makers and their ingenuity in manufacture.

The Ogee clock is an American classic. An example of American ingenuity in addressing a problem/situation and working to create a solution. The Ogee clock was born out of the industrial revolution and help to establish the American clock making industry.

Wag on the Wall

2019-03-02T07:13:00.000-05:00

In my dining room hangs a large brass cased clock my daughter in law Katy refers to as the clock with the big spoon hanging off it. This clock is a "Wag on the Wall" style clock.

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of Wag-on-the-Wall is a noun, a clock that hangs on the wall with exposed weights and pendulum. There is more to the story than just that simple statement.

To most clock people a Wag on the Wall refers to a large clock, made in the French countryside, with intricate brass work surrounding the dial and a large, imposing brass work pendulum.

Typically these clocks were fashioned in the winter months, when the agrarian life style took a short respite. On many of the dials for these clocks the makers name and often the location in which the clock was built, is inscribed.

The clocks are typically a simple lantern style movement with a bell strike and weight driven. A simple clock, yet robust in its operation potential, with minimal maintenance.

The brass work surrounding the dial and that of which the pendulum is crafted, is created in a repousse style. Repousse is the art of forming the metal into a form with several tools, typically in a wooden form.

The Wag on the Wall style clocks starts as a shelf mount or wall hung piece. After the family possessing the clock becomes more affluent, a case is often commissioned by the family from a local cabinet maker to house the piece, thus creating a beautiful and unique floor clock.

The Difference in Tones

2019-02-28T19:30:00.000-05:00

A common complaint from customers with antique clocks "I don't like how it sounds, can you fix that?" The short answer is, "most times, yes".
Now to qualify that answer. The tone of a chime is effected by the hammer, the type of gong, the mounting method of the gong, as well as the type of wood and manufacture of the case.

Hammer heads that strike the gong can be made from Leather, nylon, plastic, or metal

The metal hammer head, as shown below, is the hardest hammer head and creates the most harsh sound

The plastic hammer head, as shown below, is typically found on low end pacific rim clocks and creates a loud, harsh, unpleasant sound

The nylon hammer head, as shown below is typical of those used on modern chiming clocks. This hammer head produces a pleasant sound.

The leather hammer head, as shown below, is typical of quality antique mantle, wall, and floor clocks. The leather head produces a pleasant warm tone.

The type and material from which a clock gong is made has a huge impact on the tone of the chime.

The round wire gong, as shown below, has the harshest sound of all chimes. The wire gong is cheap to produce and has a loud call.

The flat wire gong, as shown below, has a full and melodious sound, if manufactured from mild tempered steel. Should the flat wire gong be made from high carbon steel, the sound is very sharp and harsh.

Chime rods can be the most pleasing of all chime tones. The sound generated from these chimes is dependent on the length of the rods, the material from which the rods are manufactured, the block in which the chimes are mounted and how the chime block is mounted in/on the clock case. Short chime rods produce a high pitched tone, longer chime rods produce a deeper more mellow sound.

The chime block amplifies the volume several times over chimes mounted to the back of the clock.

The wood the clock is manufactured from as well as the method of construction makes a huge difference in the sound generated by the chimes.

A good hard wood, like cherry or walnut, gives the warmest, most melodious sound. A dense hardwood such as oak, elm, chestnut, or hickory produces a sharper harsher sound, while a soft wood like pine or poplar produces a very dull soft sound.

The science of the sound

Calendar Clocks

2019-02-24T16:13:00.000-05:00

Calendar clocks are a very convenient and useful addition to your home and/or clock collection.
These clocks can seem imposing to operate, but are really just a simple clock movement with one or more eccentric drives to advance the calendar.

One of the most simple and easy to operate/set is a time only calendar clock.

The calendar hand on this movement is advanced by a pin in an eccentric that is driven off a gear mounted on the hour tube of the movement. The pin advances a stop cut gear to which the calendar hand is attached.

A more advanced/complex calendar clock is one that shown the date, the day, and the month on a separate dial

The main clock movement runs the calendar mechanism off of an eccentric cog that is driven off of a gear mounted on the hour tube. This cog lifts a lever along a gentle inclined slop until the end of the incline is reached. One the end of the incline is reached, the lever drops, advancing the calendar date and day. The month wheel is advanced on a 31 day cycle through a series of these "drops" of the lever accumulating on the separate calendar mechanism

The questions beg to be asked, what about months that do not have 31 days?
How does one coordinate the day and date?
How is the month advanced to read correctly?
How does one set the time to allow the day and date to change at midnight?

It is not possible to answer these questions with a blanket statement. Each clock model and manufacture have different methods of setting these variables.
Sorry, there is not a "one size fits all" type answer to this question

Car Clocks

2019-02-24T06:21:00.002-05:00

We take for granted knowing the time when we are in a car. Nearly all modern vehicles currently have systems that display the time of day, this was not always the case.

Having an automobile that had the time of day displayed was not common. In the early days of the automobile. every thing was an option. While radios, turn indicators, climate control, cruise control, even a speedometer and odometer would wait decades to be included as options for vehicles, the idea of having the time available was one of the first concerns worked on for aid the driver and passenger.

As is often the case when a need is discovered, the inventions and iterations of the need began to flow.

Basically, the early car clocks were a large jeweled pocket watch that was wound from a long stem

More standard were clocks that were fit into the glove box or were mounted on the dash.

More unique were clocks mounted into a rear view mirror, as well as a self winding example that was mounted on the steering wheel.

Many of the early autos had curved, slanted, or otherwise sculpted dashboards, often not permitting the flat mount of the car clock, thus the gimbled mount clock came onto the scene of available options.

As the car clock was often the only option on the auto, and the fact that early autos were a major and expensive investment, the clock was a highly designed, fashionable accessory; a beautiful thing to behold.

Today early car clocks enjoy popularity as a unique collectable; An item thought of as a curiosity today, but much appreciated by early automobile owners and passengers.

Why 60/60/24

2019-02-22T05:29:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wondered why the wristwatch strapped to your arm (assuming you still use one), your mobile screen, or any other clock in the world shows 12 numbers signifying 12 hours? Why isn’t it some other random number, like 28 or 16? What is the significance of twelve in our perception of time? I mean, if you give it any thought, you can’t deny that our measuring system is pretty weird. Allow me to explain:

24 hours are divided into two parts – a day lasting 12 hours and a night lasting 12 hours
1 hour contains 60 minutes, which also have 60 seconds each.
Each second is then divided into 1000 milliseconds.

Now, that seems like a rather strange way to divide a day. No wonder kids have trouble learning how to tell time! However, as always, like every other thing in the world, there is a reason behind this too.

The Impact of Civilization

In today’s world, we widely use the decimal number system, a system that is believed to have originated because it made it easy for us to count things on our fingers. Back then, when humans were still exploring the wonders of nature and finding answers to their countless questions, many other numerical systems were commonly used. The Egyptians and Babylonians, who first divided the day into smaller parts, used duodecimal (base 12) and sexagesimal (base 60) numeral systems.

That obviously begs the question – why base 12 and base 60? The reason is very simple, yet quite surprising!

Yes, believe it or not, the structure of our fingers is precisely the reason! The number of finger joints on each hand (excluding the thumb) makes it possible to count to 12 by using the thumb. Surprised at what a simple explanation that is? Well, things are going to get slightly more complicated…

Why 24 hours?

Let’s try to understand this step-by-step. The 24-hour day concept comes from the ancient Egyptians. They divided the day into 10 hours with devices like shadow clocks and then added one hour at each end (one for twilight and one at the end of the day). Later, a T-shaped bar was made by Egyptians, which was calibrated to divide the time between sunrise and sunset into 12 parts.

However, the absence of sunlight made it difficult to divide the time at night. It’s pretty interesting to learn how they managed to do this. Yes, nighttime division of time was based on the observation of stars! In those ancient times, with no sophisticated technology to use, they instead chose 36 star groups (small constellations) called ‘decans’, which rose consecutively on the horizon as the earth rotated. Each decan rose before sunrise and marked the beginning of a 10-day period. A total of 36 decans thus led to 36*10=360 days of a year. From one twilight to another, 18 of these decans were visible. However, each twilight period had 3 of these decans assigned, leaving 12 for the period of complete darkness (the duodecimal system is working here as well!). Thus, the rise of each decan marked an hour, so we ended up with 12 hours in each night.

However, at that time, the hours did not have a fixed length. The Greek astronomers who were then trying to find answers to the queries of the universe, existence, and stars and galaxies (in short… astronomers) found it difficult to manage calculations with the prevailing method. Then, Hipparchus gave us the “Equinoctial hours” by proposing the division of a day into 24 equal hours. Even then, for a long time, ordinary people kept using the seasonally varying hours. It wasn’t until the 14th century in Europe, when mechanical clocks came into use in Europe, that commoners began using the system that we practice to this day.

Why 60 Minutes and 60 Seconds?

The Greek astronomers who helped us make life simpler by equally dividing 24 hours followed the Babylonian’s sexagesimal (base 60) system for astronomical calculations. So, for convenience, they further divided an hour into 60 minutes and each minute into 60 seconds. It is unknown why the Babylonians used a base 60 system, but it may be because 60 is a special number for fraction calculations. It is the smallest number divisible by the first 6 counting numbers, and also by 10,12,15, 20 and 30.

The concept of milliseconds is quite modern, and since we use a base 10 system, each second is divided into 1000 milliseconds.

The elegant ideas of our ancestors still rule our day-to-day lives thousands of years later.

Oh No, I Over Wound It!

2019-02-22T04:55:00.001-05:00

One of the comments I hear quite often in the shop is "I think it was overwound". To be truthful, the problem is not usually with the clock being overwound, the problem is usually with the clock needing maintenance, typically a good cleaning and oiling.

A clock movement typically has a front and back plate that holds the gearing in place with a series of pivots.

Through time, the oil in the pivots can get dirty and thick, reducing the ability of the oil to properly lubricate and not allowing the pivots to rotate as freely in the bearing (hole) as should be. When the clock is wound, the force of the wound spring exerts pressure on the gearing and this the pivots, pushing the pivots to one side and reducing the ability of the gearing to operate properly.

Another culprit in a clock stopping after it is fully wound is the spring. A spring can "set" over time if left in a fully wound state. That is the spring, instead of fully expanding and releasing all of its energy, remains in a tight position. A set spring has roughly 1/10th the energy of a spring that can fully release its energy

The final culprit of a clock stopping after it has been wound, the escapement has been knocked out of beat, or the clock has been knocked crooked while winding.
First check the clock for level, use a spirit level.
Listen to the clock you need to hear an even tick tock left and right. If a quick tick-tock is hear either to the left or right of center, the clock is out of beat.
To correct an out of beat scenario, move the clock left or right to correct the error, adjust the escapement left or right (this cannot be done on all clocks)
Or adjust the lead to compensate for the out of beat condition.

In short, "over winding" is not a condition, it is a symptom of other problems needing addressed.

HOROLOGY: The Science of Time

2019-02-20T15:47:00.002-05:00

Humans have been measuring time since the beginning of civilizations all over the world. There are almost as many calendars as there are major cultures in the world. Ever since world travel made the world a smaller place, there has been a need for international agreement as to how time is measured. Without a universally agreed upon measure of time, how can we coordinate our schedules with people in other parts of the country, or the world?

Back in 1878, Canadian Sir Sanford Fleming proposed the system of worldwide time zones that we still use today. He recommended that the world be divided into twenty-four time zones, each spaced 15 degrees of longitude apart. Since the earth rotates once every 24 hours and there are 360 degrees of longitude, each hour the earth rotates one-twenty-fourth of a circle or 15° of longitude. However, with the advent of technology and the Internet, there is a new push for a more standardized, absolute measure of time that would make time truly universal.

The ticking of a clock can impart many and varied emotions with people. For some the ticking is a syncopated rhythm that imparts a calming affect on the body and soul. The sound is relaxing and soothing.

For some a clock ticking is a disturbance, a reminder of what has not been completed, what is yet to come, and the impending end. The tick-tock sound of a clock is a bothersome background noise that needs to be quieted.

For me, the ticking of a clock is a calming sound that breaks the silence in the home. It is an enjoyable sound while working keeping you aware of your surroundings, keeping an order in the processes of the day; Keeping you aware so as to not get lost in oneself.

The sound of a clock working has been described as a symphony, this is true. When you listen to a timepiece operating you can hear the escapement engaging and releasing, you can hear the chimes as they arm, you can hear the parts of the movement as they carry out their job.
I love the sound of a clock operating, it makes me happy.

I Need a Key

2019-02-19T19:27:00.000-05:00

Several times a year, a client will ask for a key for their clock. Supplying a key is not just going to the back room and pulling out a key. Clock keys come in numerous configuration as shown below in this group picture.

Clock keys can be single ended, double ended, a crank style, a long shaft, a short shaft, a wide wing, a narrow wing, etc... (I think you get the picture) Keys also come in several standard sizes, but can also be custom cut to fit an odd sized clock arbor.

When a key fits correctly it will fit on the arbor with very little play enabling the user to wind the movement with ease. When a key fits incorrectly, the arbor shoulders can be damaged, the clock may not be able to be wound fully, and the damage to the winding arbor can be so sever that the arbor will need re-shouldered or replaced.

Good arbor

Damaged Arbor

A winding arbor can be re-shouldered with care and a good file. Once an arbor is re-shouldered it will no longer accept the same size key as the other winding arbor(s) on the movement, thus requiring more than one key to wind the clock.

Double ended keys are required for clocks that have a separate speed adjust arbor, or a special arbor to change the chime melody or silence the chime.

Clock dial showing time and strike winding arbors as well as speed adjust arbor top center by the number 12

In short, there are dozens of different clock key sizes, configurations, and options. To replace a missing or worn key, it is best to bring the clock into the shop for a proper key fitting.
So yes, I can get you a key, but it is more than just pulling a key out of stock and handing it to you, the key needs to fit the arbor, have the proper length, and have the proper wing width.

Mind the Alarm

2019-02-18T17:13:00.000-05:00

One of the more popular clocks to come into the shop for repair is the humble kitchen clock. This tallish, thin, often gingerbready type clock is so named as it was typically found in the kitchen of 19th century homes. Since it was common to spend upwards of 8 hours a day in the kitchen preparing meals, baking, doing laundry, ironing, and the like, it was necessary to have a clock in this most used room of the house to keep track of time. The fanciest of these kitchen clocks would have thermometers, weather glasses, and alarms. Through the passing of time and non use of the alarm, it has been forgotten how to set the alarm; we address that forgotten issue in this writing.

This is a typical kitchen clock from the late 19th century.

Note in the center of the dial a small circular alarm set disc.

The alarm set disc itself looks like this when it is separate from the clock.

The alarm mechanism looks like this when it is separate from the clock.

This is a detail of the alarm setup in a typical kitchen clock

Setting the time for the alarm to activate is a simple task. The alarm set disc located in the center of the dial is rotated to set the alarm. This disc must only be rotated CLOCKWISE else damage will occur to the alarm mechanism and the movement will be jammed.

To determine the time for the alarm to activate, the disc must be rotated until the number of the hour for activation is lined up under the hour hand of the clock. I.E. if you want the alarm to ring at 2:00 o'clock, the alarm disc must be rotated until the numeral 2 is located directly under the hour hand.

The alarm mechanism must be wound separately with either a separate key or some have a key permanently affixed to the alarm mechanism.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no "snooze" on the alarm mechanism, once it starts ringing, it will continue to ring until the spring is spent. Also note, there is no AM or PM setting. If you decide to set the alarm for 2:00 o'clock it will activate at 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon; so wind the alarm mechanism only when you want to be alerted by the alarm.

Sweeten That Finish

2019-02-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Many of the antique and vintage clocks that arrive in my shop for repair and restoration of the movements, have cases that need attention. Unless a clock case has been coated in paint or a urethane coating, I exercise a sympathetic restoration approach.
If the case has minor scuffing or whitish water marks, I use a product manufactured by Howards called resto-a-finish. This product is essentially a mineral oil with a dye in it and is available in several different hues/colors.

When applying this product, I begin by cleaning the case of all dust, dirt, and loose finish using a soft, china bristle, parts brush. After the initial cleaning, restor-a-finish can be applied with a china bristle brush, a soft cotton rag, or 0000 steel wool, depending on the condition of the current finish and the look desired.

Should the finish need more than just a refresh from restor-a-finish, I use a soft paste wax with a color added to breath life back into the case and imbue a warm, soft hue to the finish. My product of choice for this is BriWax from England. BriWax comes in several shades from clear to ebony.
Again start with a soft, china bristle brush to remove dust, dirt, and any loose finish from the clock case. Apply the wax with a soft cloth or 0000 steel wool, buffing the finish to a pleasant, warm sheen.

I often use a hand crafted beeswax polish on historic or special pieces. A simple beeswax polish can be made from grated beeswax and pure, clear turpentine. Simply grate the beeswax into a glass jar that has a screw on lid, add your pure, clear turpentine to cover. The beeswax will dissolve in less than a day and create a nice paste wax for application. Apply this wax with a soft cloth and buff to a warm satin sheen.

Should the finish of the case be to the point that is has gone black with age, severely checked/alligatored, or has failed to the point that it is flaking off, I use a refinishing solution of boiled linseed oil and pure turpentine.
The recipe for the solution is 2 parts boiled linseed oil & 3 parts turpentine. Apply the mixture with 0000 steel wool rubbing in a circular fashion until the finish is softened. Rinse the steel wool often in the solution to ensure the impurities are removed and not redeposited on the finish. After the finish is cleaned and reworked to the desired appearance, go over the entire piece with a clean 0000 steel wool pad that has been dampened with the refinishing mixture, going with the grain. Allow the finish cure for 72 hours, then topcoat with the beeswax polish shown above.

The example below is a mid 19th century ogee clock that was located into the rafters of the detached garage after a house fire. The clock remained in the rafters of the garage from the 1950's until 2017 when it was discovered by owners grandson. During my restoration of the case, I found a photo of customers great-great grandfather under the grime on the lower tablet.
The case was reclaimed with the boiled linseed oil and turpentine mixture, then top coated with the beeswax and turpentine polish. A pleased customer.

Pine Knoll Clock Shop on Television!

2019-01-29T19:23:00.000-05:00

Should you ever have wondered what Dorrin sounded like, watch the following special on Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals. The clock shop starts around the 15 minute marker. Thanks for watching!

Pine Knoll Clock Shop & Appraisals on Television

Water Works Park Floral Clock

2019-01-23T18:31:00.003-05:00

When I was 10 years old or so, I took a trip with the CB Rangers Explorers to Detroit. One of the highlights of the trip was a stop at Dearborn Village where I got to see the famous Floral Clock that Henry Ford moved to the village from the Detroit Water Works Park, subsequently retrofitting the original water powered movement with a weight driven pendulum movement. I am currently working on finding original plans for this clock in hopes of recreating this in its original water powered design.
The changes I anticipate including on my version of this famous clock:
1) Crafted from Lexan allowing visitors to view the works
2) No live florals would be planted on the clock, I would use preserved vegetation for the numerals and leave the remainder open to view the mechanism.

This is the clock as it was originally displayed at the Water Works Park

This is how the clock looked when displayed at the Dearborn Village

Below is the story of the Floral Clock provided by the Historic Detroit Organization:

Water Works Park

Few cities in the United States had waterworks systems in the early 1800s. A growing Detroit had growing thirst, so the eventually opened its first distribution system at Jefferson and Randolph Street, which served the city from 1827 until 1850. Having outgrown that, the city built a replacement in 1854 in “the extreme outskirts” of Detroit, near present-day Eastern Market. It opened three years later. But the regionalization of the area’s water system coupled with the city’s growing population and status as a manufacturing center put the plant under incredible strain.

The City Waterworks bought 56 acres of land from owner Robert P. Toms for $35,000 (about $678,000 today, when adjusted for inflation). Located off East Jefferson Avenue near Cadillac Boulevard, east of Belle Isle and even farther from downtown that the last facility, water flowed through the plant for the first time on Dec. 15, 1877, and was fully operational by 1879.

While the area’s main focus was supplying drinking water to the city, this swath of land was much more than just the site of another plant. The water commissioners decided to open the grounds to the public as a park.

This park — which still exists today but is no longer open to the public — would eventually encompass 110 acres with swimming and picnic areas, play equipment like swings and teeter-totters, baseball diamonds, even a library.

The clock

Among its attractions were lagoons, swimming areas, a large observation tower and the Floral Clock, which stood near the entrance that was made of flowers and run off water pressure. The clock was unveiled in the park in 1893 and was designed by Elbridge A. “Scrib” Scribner, the superintendent of the park’s grounds. Scribner’s clock ran on cup-shaped paddlewheels that moved as water flowed. The clock itself was made up of more than 7,000 plants that were held in place by chicken wire. It stood seven-and-a-half feet high and was 10 feet across. The dial was 6 feet in diameter and had numerals made out of alternantheras, a type of shrub. The rest of the clock’s face was sempervivum Tectorum, known as common houseleek. In front of the clock sat beds of tulips or begonias.

By the 1930s, however, the clock had become a liability. Park visitors were no longer enraptured by its water-powered wonder. It also stopped keeping accurate time. In 1934, automaker Henry Ford had a fascination with clocks — not to mention relics of American history — and bought the floral timepiece to display at his Greenfield Village. The clock was altered, however, replacing the water-powered mechanism with a traditional pendulum-and-weight mechanism. Unlike its days being powered by water, the floral clock had to be wound twice a day. But also unlike the old days, the clock now kept accurate time. The restored clock sat near the Greenfield Village Gatehouse and was dedicated July 4, 1935. Much like it had at Water Works Park, the clock would delight visitors to Greenfield Village for another 39 years.

In 1974, however, the clock started breaking down, and it was decided to retire the old timepiece. In 1989, Greenfield Village returned the clock to the City of Detroit’s Water and Sewerage Department, which oversees what was Water Works Park.

The clock was moved to the entrance on the island side of the MacArthur Bridge in 1990.